Remote control for moving picture cameras



Nov. 9, 1943. I J c. BARR 2,333,972

REMOTE CONTROL FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VENTOR. Jamefi C. fiarr flTTOKNEy.

Nov. 9, 1943. Jjc. BARR 2,333,972

REMOTE CONTROL FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Shet 2 gNvENToR. James C Barr BY @Miw 9. [W

HTTOKNfY.

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOTE CONTROL FOR MOVING PICTURE CAMERAS James C. Barr, Huntington Park, Calif.

Application May 5, 1941, Serial .No. 391,857

(Cl. 161-l) 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a shutter operating means that may be actuated by a remote control, and the principal object is to provide such remote control for a moving picture camera.

Another object of my invention is to provide means in such a control which will complete the cycle of operation once it has been started manually by the operator.

Still another object is to provide such a mechanism that will permit the shutter of the camera to be closed by a quick retraction of the operating part of the present mechanism.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that is positive in operation, convenient in use, easil installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, eco nomical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the fo1- lowing description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only. V

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view, partly diagrammatic, showing an embodiment of the present invention, taken on the line ll of Fig.2. I

Fig. 1a is a broken View, looking in the direction of the arrow Ia of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan View lookingdown on the mechanism as shown in Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 5 are broken, sectional elevations showing successive steps in the operation of a part of the present mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the offset line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 1, taken on the'line 'l| of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation looking in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numerals 9 and I0 generally designate substantially parallel plates of a frame that is provided with a side member 12. The plates 9 and I!) afford bearings for spindles and shafts hereinafter more fully described.

Motive power for actuating a shutter control is provided by means of a coiled clock spring 13. A train of gears l4, l5, l6, l1 and 28 are connected to be driven by the coil spring l3. The

spring l3 and gear 14 are connected to a shaft IS. The gears l5 and It are mounted on a spindle I9, and the gears l1 and 28 are mounted on a spindle 20. A ratchet 21 is also mounted on the shaft I8. The gear 14 is loose on the face i8, but connected to bedriven by rotation of the shaft 18 in a clockwise direction, by reason of ratchet 2|, as shown in'Fig. '7. A dog 22 mounted on the gear I4 is urged into engagement with the ratchet 2|, by means of a spring 23.

Motive power produced by the coil spring l3 through said train of gears is controlled by an escapement 24 pivotedon a pin 25 between the plates Sand l0.

The escapement 24, which oscillates about the pin 25, is held in check by a trigger 26 on an armature 21. Fingers 29'project through the armature 21 adjacent an edge thereof. The pins 23 have a sufliciently loose connection with the armature 2'! to permit oscillation of the armature 21 from thefull line position to its broken line position and back to its original position, as shown in Fig. 8. A helical spring 30 tends to move the armature 21 to its full line position, shown in Fig. 8. The "pins 29 are integral with the mounting frame 3| supporting a solenoid 32. An adjusting screw .33 is connected to alter the tension of the helical spring.

The shaft 18 extends through the plate 3 and carries a winding key 34 on the opposite side of the plate .9 from the coil spring [3 and the hereinbefore described train .of gears. A double faced driving cam 35 is fastened upon the shaft 18. A bar .36 for operating a shutter control mechanism is mounted to reciprocate within bearings 31 and 38, which are supported on the plate 19 by means of lugs and 4|, respectively. A head 42 is arranged on the end of the bar 33. "The head 42 may actuate a, lever, bell crank, or other suitable means for operating the shutterof a moving picture camera. It is believed clear without further illustration that the reciprocation of the bar 36 may be utilized by such lever or bell crank means to operate such a shutter. A hood 43 is shown enclosing the head 42 of the bar. This hood 43 may be placed in a'proper position for the present device to actuate a given model of a moving picture camera.

A helical spring 44, wound upon the bar 36, abuts against a sleeve 45 on the bar and against the bearing .38, tending to draw the bar 36 to the left 'in Fig. 1. Suitable cushion means 45 may be arranged against a head '41 of the bearing 31 (which extends throug'hthelug 4'0) A bell crank 48 is pivoted on a shaft 49 mounted on the plate :9. The bell crank has alooped head 58, which is disposed between the sleeve 45 and the cushion 46. Thus, when the bell crank 48 is rocked in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 3-5, it causes the bar 36 to move forward to a shutter-mechanism actuating position. Fig. 4 shows the beginning of the swinging movement of the bell crank 48 in a clockwise direction and the beginning of the movement of the bar 36 to the right in said figure. Fig. shows the bell crank 46 substantially at the end of its clockwise movement, and the bar 36 is shown substantially at its greatest advanced position, in Fig. 5. The cam rotates from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, eflecting movement of the bell crank 48 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5.

Since the cam 35 is fixed on the shaft I8, it is necessary to permit a winding of the cam 35 in a clockwise direction. To permit this without moving the bell crank 48, a pivoted arm 5| is mounted to swing on the shaft 49. A spring 52 has its ends connected with the bell crank 48 and with the arm 5| and tends to swing the arm 5| in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3.

A lateral lug 53 on the lower bell arm of the bell crank 48, provides a stop for the swinging movement of the arm 5| in a clockwise direction. A laterally engaging ear 54 on the arm 5| is engaged by the faces of the cam 35. The faces of the cam 35 do not directly engage the bell crank 48.

The above described connections of the arm 5| permit the spring I3 to be wound by rotation of the shaft I8 in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 5, and by movement of the shaft I8 and cam 35 in a counter-clockwise direction causes rocking movement of the bell crank 48.

A timing wheel 55 is loosely mounted upon the shaft l8. The wheel 55 has radial lugs 56. A dog 51 pivoted on the wheel 55 engages a ratchet 58 fastened on the shaft I8. A spring 59 tends to urge th dog 51 into engagement with the ratchet 58. The teeth of the ratchet 58 and the dog 51 are so arranged that rotation of the shaft I8, under influence of the spring I3, rotates the wheel 55 in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1. A spring stop 68 permits the lugs 56 to pass when the wheel 55 is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, but provides an abutment to prevent retrograde movement of the wheel 55 in the opposite direction.

A rocker 6| mounted on a pivot 62 carries a contact 63 at one end, and a lug engaging flange 64 at the opposite side of the pivot. The flange 64 is arranged to be engaged by the lugs 56 during rotation of the wheel 55. When one of the lugs 56 engages the flange 64, the rocker is moved to a position in which the contact 63 is out of engagement with a relativel fixed contact 64. The contact 64 is connected to a bindingpost 65 that is insulated from the plate 9. A wire 66 connects the binding post 65 with a binding post One wire 68 from the binding post 61 connects with a source of electrical current 69, such as a dry cell battery. The other wire 10, leading from the binding post 61, connects with one side of a manual switch 1|. The wire 12 connecting with the opposite side of the manual switch 1| is grounded on the plate 9, as suggested'at 13.

The solenoid is connected by means of a wire I4 with a binding post 15 that is insulated from the plate 9. A wire 16 connects the binding post I5 with the other side of the electrical source 69.

In the operation of my invention, the present mechanism is mounted upon the camera, or upon the support for a camera, by any suitable means. The hood 43 is adjusted to its desired position with respect to a particular model of camera.

It is to be understood that the wires 10 and 12 are of considerable length in order that the operator may hold the manual switch H in his hand at some distance from the camera. The operator may of course be in the picture himself.

When it is desired to operate the camera, the person holding the switch 1| manually closes such switch. This closes a circuit for the solenoid 32. The circuit that is to be closed comprises the battery 68 (which is preferably a small, portable, dry cell battery), wire 68, wire 10, the switch 1|, wire 12, and by means of the conductive plate 9 to a wire 88 that connects with the solenoid.

Upon energizing the solenoid 32, it attracts the armature 21, thus releasing the escapement catch 24. The energy stored up in the coil spring I3 thereupon drives the shaft I8 in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 1. Since the wheel 55 is operatively connected to rotate with the shaft I8 in said direction, the lug 56 that is holding the contact 63 in an open position by means of the rocker 6| will be moved away from the plate 64. A spring 8| thereupon closes the contacts 63, 64. After this point the manual switch 1| may be released, but nevertheless the mechanism will complete a cycle of operation.

After the contacts 63, 64 are closed, the circuit which energizes the solenoid 32 is as follows:

The source of electrical energy 69, wire 68, binding post 61, wire 66, binding post 65, contacts 64 and 63, rocker 6|, and pin 62, which is grounded on the plate 9, as shown at 82, and wire to the solenoid 32. It will be noticed that this latter circuit excludes the manual switch 1|, so that it may be released without interfering with the operation, once the engaged lug 56 moves away from the plate 64.

When the next lug 56 engages the plate 64, the rocker 6| is moved against the action of the spring 8|, thus separating the contacts 63 and 64. When the circuit is thus broken, the solenoid 32 is de-energized and the spring 30 moves the trigger 26 to an impeding position with respect to the escapement catch 24, thus stopping further operation of the mechanism.

Rotation of the shaft I8, as described, has caused movement of the cam 35 from the position shown in Fig. 4, to the position shown in Fig, 5, thus advancing the plunger head 42, to operate the shutter of the moving picture camera. Upon continued movement of the cam 35 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 5, the bell crank 48 is released, thus permitting the spring 44 to return the reciprocating bar 36 to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Of course, winding of the coil spring I3 is in the opposite direction, to wit, in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3. In order that the cam 35 may pass the lower arm of the bell crank 48, an auxiliary, swinging arm 5| is provided, which permits the cam 35 to slip past same during winding, as suggested in Fig. 3. The arm 5| and the bell crank 48 operate as a unit when the bell crank 48 is rocked as shown in Fig. 5.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a remotecontrol apparatus for moving picture cameras, a movable operating element, a bell crank arranged to effect movement of said element to an operating position, windable, coiled spring means, cam means connected to be operated by the spring means and in turn disposed to actuate the bell crank, escapement means connected to control the release of the spring means, means connected to maintain the escapement means in check, a star wheel connected to be rotated by the spring means as it is successively released, a circuit breaker arranged to be moved to an open position by the fingers on the wheel, spring means tending to move the circuit breaker to a closed position when the wheel is rotated, two electrical circuits, manual switch means connected to control one of the circuits at a distance from the operating element, the circuit breaker controlling the other circuit, and electrical means connected to be actuated by current in either circuit to release the check means.

2. In a remote control apparatus for moving picture cameras, a movable operating element, two electrical circuits, manual switch means connected to control one of said circuits, an operating spring mechanism arranged to effect movement of said element to an operating position, electrically controlled means normally checking movement of said operating mechanism and connected to be actuated by current in either circuit to release said mechanism for operation when either circuit is closed, and means actuated by said operating mechanism and effective during operation thereof to initially automatically close the second circuit and subsequently automatically open said second circuit after closure of the manual switch means. l

3. In a remote control apparatus for moving picture cameras, a movable operating element, two electrical circuits, manual switch means COIL- nected to control one of said circuits, an operating spring mechanism arranged to effect movement of said element to an operating position, electrically controlled means normally checking movement of said operating mechanism and connected to be actuated by current in either circuit to release said mechanism for operation when either circuit is closed, a spring controlled switch for closing said second circuit, and a member rotating with said operating mechanism having spaced peripheral projections effectively to successively actuate the said spring controlled switch to effect closing and opening movements of the switch at the beginning and end of each manually initiated movement of th operating mechanism.

JAMES C. BARR. 

